Culture Ireland Announces €5 Million Cultúr 2026 Programme to Support Irish Artists During EU Presidency
Culture Ireland has launched "Cultúr 2026", a €5 million programme designed to support Irish artists and cultural organisations during Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union, alongside over €890,000 in new funding for the promotion of Irish arts globally — an initiative that aims to position Ireland as a leading voice in European cultural diplomacy and to showcase the depth and diversity of Irish artistic talent to an international audience.
Background
Ireland assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in January 2026, taking on the rotating six-month role that gives member states a significant platform to shape the EU's legislative agenda and to project their national identity and values to a European and global audience. Previous Irish EU Presidencies — in 1975, 1979, 1984, 1990, 1996, 2004, and 2013 — have been used to advance key policy priorities and to showcase Irish culture, and the 2026 Presidency is no exception.
Culture Ireland is the government agency responsible for promoting Irish arts internationally. Established in 2005, the agency has supported thousands of Irish artists and cultural organisations in presenting their work to international audiences, from major festivals in Edinburgh and Edinburgh to galleries in New York and Sydney. Its work is underpinned by a belief that Irish culture — in all its diversity and complexity — is one of Ireland's most powerful tools of soft power and international engagement.
The Cultúr 2026 programme was developed specifically to maximise the cultural dimension of Ireland's EU Presidency, providing Irish artists with the resources and the platform to engage with European audiences and to contribute to the broader conversation about the role of culture in European identity and integration. The programme reflects a recognition that cultural diplomacy — the use of arts and culture to build relationships and advance national interests — is an increasingly important dimension of Ireland's international engagement.
Key Developments
The €5 million Cultúr 2026 programme will support a range of activities, including touring productions, exhibitions, residencies, and collaborative projects involving Irish artists and their European counterparts. The programme has a particular emphasis on contemporary Irish work — theatre, music, visual art, literature, and film — that engages with themes of European identity, shared history, and the challenges facing European societies in the twenty-first century.
The additional €890,000 in funding for the promotion of Irish arts globally will support Culture Ireland's existing grant programmes, which provide financial support to Irish artists and organisations presenting their work at international festivals, venues, and events. The funding will allow the agency to support a larger number of projects and to reach new markets, including emerging economies in Asia and Latin America where interest in Irish culture is growing.
The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, which oversees Culture Ireland, described the Cultúr 2026 programme as "a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase Irish culture to a European and global audience." The minister emphasised that the programme was not merely about promoting Ireland's cultural exports but about contributing to a broader European conversation about the role of culture in building a more cohesive and resilient European Union.
Why It Matters
The Cultúr 2026 programme matters for Irish artists and cultural organisations for several reasons. The €5 million investment represents a significant increase in the resources available for international cultural promotion, and the EU Presidency context provides a platform that would be impossible to replicate outside this six-month window. For Irish artists working in theatre, music, visual art, and literature, the programme offers opportunities to present their work to new European audiences and to build the international relationships that are essential for sustaining a career in the arts. The programme also matters for Ireland's broader international reputation. Culture has always been one of Ireland's most effective tools of soft power, and the Cultúr 2026 initiative is a recognition that investing in cultural diplomacy generates returns — in terms of tourism, trade, and international goodwill — that far exceed the initial investment.
Local Impact
The Cultúr 2026 programme will have a direct impact on artists and cultural organisations across Ireland, from established institutions in Dublin and Cork to emerging artists in regional centres and rural communities. Culture Ireland's grant programmes are open to artists and organisations across the country, and the additional funding announced this week will allow the agency to support a wider range of projects and to reach artists who might not previously have had access to international opportunities. The programme will also have an indirect impact on the broader Irish arts ecosystem, by raising the profile of Irish culture internationally and generating the kind of international recognition that attracts audiences, investment, and talent to Ireland's cultural sector.
What's Next
Culture Ireland will open applications for the Cultúr 2026 programme in the coming weeks, with the first round of funding decisions expected in September. The agency has indicated that it will prioritise projects that engage with European themes and that involve collaboration with European partners. The EU Presidency concludes at the end of June 2026, but the cultural legacy of the Cultúr 2026 programme is expected to extend well beyond that date, with many of the supported projects continuing to tour and exhibit throughout 2026 and into 2027.
